Thai Volleyball Stars Grab Asian Women’s Championship

After winning the world’s ladies badminton title last month, Thailand notched up another sporting victory Saturday by winning the Asian women’s volleyball championship, defeating Japan in three straight sets in front of a raucous home crowd in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The 25-22, 25-18, 25-17 win was also proof that, at least sometimes, age is no barrier to success. “We were blamed for being too old when we lost to Kazakhstan at the beginning of the tournament,” Thailand’s team captain Wilavan Apinyapong, 29 years old, said after the match. “But winning the tournament proves that age doesn’t matter. It might have been a surprise when we first won the championship in 2009, but we worked really hard this time.”

On the way to the final, the Thailand team defeated China in a five-set semi-final thriller to set up a head-to-head with the Japanese team, ranked No. 3 in the world compared with Thailand’s 16th place in the global rankings, and setting off rush for tickets among fans. More than 5,000 crammed into the auditorium in Nakhon Ratchasima, in northeast Thailand, some of them lining up for hours earlier in the day to secure their place. Many were toting oversized kazoos or waving Thai national flags. When Thailand came close to closing out each set, the crowd yelled “25, 25!”

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Outside, thousands more watched the game on a giant screen, while in Bangkok many more followed the Thai team’s triumph on television.

“I’m so glad we beat the Olympic bronze medalists,” said Nattapol Changsong, a 34-year-old volleyball player. “Our Thai team put on their best performance and showed that experience is more important than age.”

The Thai players walked the 10 kilometers back to their hotel with their fans, signing autographs and taking pictures with supporters. One of the players had earlier pledged to make the walk before a statue of Thao Suranri, a celebrated female warrior who helped lead a rebellion against invaders from Laos in the 19th century.

Ms. Wilavan, the captain was voted the tournament’s most valuable player, with Nootsara Tomkom voted best setter.

Next up for the Thai spikers: A trip to Japan in November to represent Asia in the prestigious FIVB World Grand Championships Cup, where they will compete with the best from Europe and North and South America as well as host country Japan.

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